3 Killed In Detroit Home Fire

June 26, 1986|United Press International

DETROIT -- Fire swept an inner-city boarding house for the disabled early Wednesday, forcing residents to jump from windows with their clothes in flames. Three people were killed and 20 were injured, two critically.

The three-story home is owned by Joan Polk, believed by state officials to be the daughter of former Miami boarding home operator Lucille Walker, who was convicted of kidnapping three elderly women in a scheme to bilk them of their life savings four years ago.

A Detroit Fire Department official said inspectors determined the blaze was suspicious and are investigating the fire as a possible arson.

Charles Peller, a spokesman for the state Department of Social Services, said the boarding house was formerly a statelicensed foster care home. It lost its license under previous ownership due to ``extensive fire and environmental rule violations`` in 1977, he said.

The house later was sold to Polk and her husband, Tommy, who converted it into a room-and-board facility for disabled adults.

Peller said Polk is believed to be the daughter of Walker, who once ran the Tangelia adult foster care home in Miami.

Walker, then known as Cora Galvin, the name of her deceased mother, was convicted in June 1982 of kidnapping three elderly woman from her Miami home and bringing them to Detroit.

Her convictions were overturned on appeal in June 1984 and she was released after serving a short time in prison.